Paraguayan Swimmer Luana Alonso was kicked out of the Olympic Village after authorities claimed she was creating an “inappropriate environment.”
Her country had high hopes for the athlete as she came to Paris holding the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly Paraguayan records, but her performance ultimately disappointed as she came in sixth place in the preliminary heats.
Highlights
- Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso was expelled from the Olympic Village for 'inappropriate behavior' after failing to qualify for the Butterfly semi-finals.
- Her performance was disappointing as she placed sixth in the preliminary heats, leading to a tense atmosphere within the team.
- Alonso announced her retirement from swimming shortly after her disqualification, citing personal reasons and future aspirations outside the sport.
Image credits: luanalonsom
The results created what was described as “a tense atmosphere” inside the team, which resulted in the athlete allegedly getting into a confrontation and announcing her retirement from the competition.
Soon after she left the Villa out of her own accord without the approval of her supervisors, the Paraguayan Olympic Committee applied disciplinary measures against her.
Paraguay bans a swimmer from the Olympic Village one day after she failed to qualify for the butterfly swimming semi-finals, citing “inappropriate behavior”
Image credits: luanalonsom
Despite being a decorated athlete in her country, having won three medals at the 2022 South American Rosario Youth Games, and participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Alonso has stated that swimming is not her end goal.
Image credits: luanalonsom
“I would like to have a family, and if I keep being tied to the sport, I don’t think that will be possible.”
The athlete announced her retirement shortly after being disqualified from continuing to the semi-finals of her event
Image credits: luanalonsom
“It’s been 18 years of my life. I apologize to Paraguay with all my heart. I did what I could,” she continued.
Image credits: luanalonsom
“Despite the result, I’m happy to retire in the middle of a packed stadium here at the 2024 Paris Olympics.”
Camilo Pérez, president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, delivered some disparaging comments about the athlete, citing rumors that Alonso might be intending to compete for the US in future events.
“She didn’t come here because of her scores, she came here because she’s Paraguayan. If she intends to represent the US she will have to achieve scores that she has not achieved so far,” he said, according to Latin American sports news site AS.
